How to Feed a Christmas Cactus Plant

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Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) produces pink or red flowers in late fall or early winter, often blooming at the height of the holiday season. The cactus grows outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 to 12, but it's usually grown as an indoor plant because it can't tolerate wet soil and requires 10-hour periods of complete darkness to bloom at its best. Feeding it properly ensures healthy growth of leaf segments and successful bud set, but overfeeding can prevent a Christmas cactus from reaching full flower.

1

Add 10 drops, or about 1/2 teaspoon, of a 2-7-7 soluble fertilizer to 1 quart of water in a watering can. Stir to mix.

2

Water the Christmas cactus with the fertilizer solution when new buds begin forming in early spring. Water and fertilize only when the top 1 inch of soil dries completely.

3

Feed the cactus with the fertilizer solution once a month from bud set in spring through early fall. If the soil dries out between fertilizations, water the plant with plain water.

4

Water the plant with the fertilizer solution for the final time for the season in October or November to encourage Christmas blooming. Use 1/2 teaspoon of a nitrogen-free fertilizer, such as a 0-10-10 blend, in 1 quart of water. Do not fertilize once the cactus begins to flower.

Things You Will Need

2-7-7 soluble fertilizer

Watering can

0-10-10 soluble fertilizer

Tip

Over-fertilizing, especially after the buds begin to open, can cause the buds or flowers to drop off the plant prematurely. A fertilizer with high nitrogen content can also prevent bloom.

About the Author

Jenny Harrington has been a freelance writer since 2006. Her published articles have appeared in various print and online publications. Previously, she owned her own business, selling handmade items online, wholesale and at crafts fairs. Harrington's specialties include small business information, crafting, decorating and gardening.